Companies of the citrus sector created units to provide children with quality education and full-time assistance - since they believe it is not additional income that make families allow their children to evade school - with actions to supplement children and teenagers' regular school activities. These units are called Supplementary Education Centers (SECs).

The Supplementary Education Center Fundecitrus-Araraquara was implemented in August 1997, following an agreement between Fundecitrus and the Government of the City of Araraquara. Fundecitrus donated a building consisting of seven rooms to implement workshops; cafeteria and area for socializing; kitchen, laundry; pantry; stock room; teachers' room; principal's room; four restrooms; a free area measuring 5,501 square meters; greenhouse to plant greens and vegetables; and a sports court.

Also involved in the partnership are the juice industries Bascitrus, Cargill, Citrosuco, Citrovita, Coinbra-Frutesp and Sucocítrico Cutrale, which donated the permanent equipment for the workshops to operate. The municipality of Araraquara is in charge of all expenses with the unit's operation and maintenance, such as consumables, educational materials and school meals, students' transportation, personnel hiring and constant training, and payment of the employees.

The SEC works the whole year round in two shifts, with 240 children and teenagers between 7 and 14 years, who are also enrolled in regular public schools. They go to regular public schools in the morning and to the SEC in the afternoons, or vice-versa.

In addition to educational activities, children and teenagers also receive meals, have classes on personal hygiene (how to bathe, how to brush their teeth, how to dress and how to take care of their clothes, etc.), and environment protection. They also have a space to socialize, and for diversified cultural activities. All children and teenagers participate in the activities that are divided into workshops. The workshops that are operating in the SEC Araraquara are: Reading and Writing I, Reading and Writing II, Practices on how to organize your daily activities, Human Relations, Music and Singing, Recreation and Games, Expression and School tasks and assignments.

For more information on the SECs, please visit the website: www.fundecitrus.com.br